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Old 08-13-2012, 07:18 PM
 
2 posts, read 9,804 times
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Hello,

As you can guess from my name I currently work (and grew up in) the midwest. I will be moving, likely permanently, and have the choice between Seattle and Boston from my employer.

Climate/geography wise, I'd prefer the PNW over the East Coast, but that's not the only factor. My wife is democratic, I'm libertarian (live and let live, in all areas of human experience), and we are UCC so culturally I think Seattle is a better fit as well. My job would be accessible by the rail system, so I can live pretty much anywhere that has access, and I'm not opposed to a long commute. This has made it difficult to narrow our search for housing since so many cities are an option.

What cities would be good for young, growing family with a single income that will eventually be over 100k. Access to rural hobbies (fishing, state parks), good schools, and family friendly ammenities are a plus.

Thanks - I may have follow up questions as the thread progresses.
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Old 08-13-2012, 11:44 PM
 
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
43 posts, read 87,158 times
Reputation: 85
Hello!

I don't yet live in the PNW...I'm relocating there in a month's time...but I've lived in Boston for a little over ten years, now, so I can tell you the reasoning behind my move, and maybe that will be of help!

Boston is a wonderful city, and I have really loved living here. It has its problems, as with every place, but it was perfectly suited to what I wanted from life at the time I moved here: I was just out of college, bored with being in Colorado, and looking for an area in which there was always going to be something going on. Living here, I have never lacked for things to do; the huge amount of schools means that the city has constant transfusions of young people in various stages of their academic careers and the early stages of their professional lives. We are a major hub for entertainment, too; we don't have the kinds of high-end, elite nightclubs that you'll get in NYC, but big names in music, comedy, and art usually make it a point to stop here. The city really is the cradle of the nation -- the history here is amazing -- and despite being a very large city, it's pretty laid back and definitely progressive.

That said...

I've reached a point in my life (I turn 31 this year) where I'm starting to look for other things. Instead of stepping out of my front door to 'go out,' I want to step out of my front door and 'go outside'...and to do that in Massachusetts means living in a suburb. There's a running joke that everything outside of the city itself is '30 minutes from Boston'; it's more or less true in the sense that anything close to the city here is pretty developed and built-out, with exceptions (Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard) being extremely expensive.

I'm not as enamored of Seattle as I am of Boston (though in the interests of full disclosure, I will say that I don't know the city very well), but what Washington does have that the East Coast does not is a temperate, very green area within a very reasonable distance from a major city. I wanted to be able to look out on natural vistas and feel a sense of privacy and remoteness in the morning, and then hop a quick ride to the city if I needed some items of convenience...and it would be somewhat difficult to do that in the Boston area, with how widespread development here has been. I'm also planning ahead; I'll probably be starting a family in the next handful of years, and I can't imagine raising one directly in Boston. Some people do, and do so very successfully, but it wasn't the childhood I had, personally. For those reasons, I've settled on Bainbridge Island, and will be moving there shortly!

It wouldn't have satisfied my needs ten years ago, when I wanted to be more readily and immediately engaged with the city itself...but now, I'm really appreciating having that green, quiet buffer available, with the conveniences of a city if I need them.

I wish I could tell you more about Seattle as a city! For all I know, I'll love it every bit as much as I love Boston!
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Old 08-14-2012, 06:11 PM
 
Location: West Coast - Best Coast!
1,979 posts, read 3,515,790 times
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sophistre, that's a great post. I love Boston (love it so much that I flew out there for just a weekend last year), but I get what you're saying by "30 minutes from Boston." I once had to drive to a town that was I think 15 miles outside of Boston, and I remember how weird it was to see a bunch of nothing once I was outside the city limits. And what was there was not very colorful or pretty. What I love about Boston is the city itself, all the history and those gorgeous 17th century homes on Beacon Hill. But as you mentioned, those places are insanely expensive and they're still in the city.
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Old 08-14-2012, 08:34 PM
 
Location: US Empire, Pac NW
5,003 posts, read 12,331,630 times
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I think the best choice at this point in your life would be to actually go there and see what you like. Both cities are very different. Boston has more energy and is definitely faster paced. Seattle is "closer" to nature and is much newer.

That's all I've really to say about it.
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Old 08-14-2012, 09:07 PM
 
2 posts, read 9,804 times
Reputation: 10
Let me refine my question. Tacoma all the way north to Edmunds is in play, as I don't mind a 30-45 minute commute by train if the location is right. I will be placed with a company-sponsored Realtor, but that's a lot of options to narrow down for someone who knows nothing about the area.
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Old 08-14-2012, 10:28 PM
 
Location: Wallace, Idaho
3,353 posts, read 6,648,756 times
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Sounds like the north suburbs might be your best bet, if access to the rails is important and you want good schools. I don't know the north side that well, but here are a few resources to help you find the best school districts.

Top 10 Best Washington State Elementary Schools - WA School Rankings
Search Washington High Schools | US News

If lack of access to rail is not a deal-breaker, I'd also recommend Issaquah. Parks, hiking, fishing, camping, access to lakes, beautiful mountain views.

Your politics won't be a problem. It's a liberal part of the country, but mostly of the live-and-let-live variety. I tend libertarian as well, though not on every topic, and my views have never been an issue here.
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Old 08-18-2012, 01:48 PM
 
1,459 posts, read 3,292,613 times
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I lived in Boston for 15 yrs.....moved here to Seattle not too long ago. When I moved here I thought I had left the bad behind and moved to something great. Now after several years of having to deal with "seattlite" crap, I am longing for Boston again. I didn't realize how good I had it back there.
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Old 08-18-2012, 01:52 PM
 
21,989 posts, read 15,648,158 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Freebird2007 View Post
I lived in Boston for 15 yrs.....moved here to Seattle not too long ago. When I moved here I thought I had left the bad behind and moved to something great. Now after several years of having to deal with "seattlite" crap, I am longing for Boston again. I didn't realize how good I had it back there.
You should return to Boston. Seattle can't fix what ails you and, like Evergray returning to CA, you will probably be much happier in Boston.
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Old 08-18-2012, 02:44 PM
 
1,630 posts, read 3,874,322 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MidwestActuary View Post
Let me refine my question. Tacoma all the way north to Edmunds is in play, as I don't mind a 30-45 minute commute by train if the location is right. I will be placed with a company-sponsored Realtor, but that's a lot of options to narrow down for someone who knows nothing about the area.
The train from Tacoma station to Seattle station is an hour ... so you're looking at a 90 minute commute if you include time from home to train and train to work. One thing you'll quickly discover about Seattle compared to Boston is that public transit (especially rail) is severely lacking. There's nothing like the 'T' in the Seattle area.
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Old 08-18-2012, 08:38 PM
 
188 posts, read 514,761 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seacove View Post
you should return to boston. Seattle can't fix what ails you and, like evergray returning to ca, you will probably be much happier in boston.
+1
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